Signal installation for fire-engines.



No. 7II,7|8. Patented on. 2:, I902.

J. H. DETERS. SIGNAL INSTALLATION FOB FIRE ENGINES.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1902.)

(No Model.)

Nib-Leases UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME I-I. DETERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR'FIFTHS TO AMERICAN FIRE HOSE SIGNAL COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SIGNAL INSTALLATION FOR FIRE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,718, dated October 21, 1 02.

Application filed April 28, 1902. Serial No. 104,974. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may 0011067711: larly pointed out in the claims is found a Be it known that I, JEROME H. DETERS, a full description of theinvention,together with citizen of the United States, residing in the its operation, parts, and construction, which city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton latter is also illustrated in the accompanying 5 and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new drawings, in whichand useful Signal Installation for Fire-En- Figure 1 shows in side view a steam firegines; and I do declare the following to be engine of customary type supposed to be in a clear, full, and exact description thereof, action and provided with the devices whereby attention being called to the accompanymy invention is carried out. Fig. 2 is a top :0 ing drawings, with the reference-numerals view of these devices and of certain adjacent marked thereon, which form also a part of parts of the fire-engine. Fig. 3is an enlarged this specification. side View of certain devices of my invention. This invention relates to asignaling attach- Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view, still further ment for use in connection with fire-engines enlarged, of one of these devices.

15 which comprise in general a pumping outfit In Fig. 1, 6 indicates the usual upright operatedbyasuitable motor, usuallyasteamboiler; 7, the steam-engine in general outengine, a hose for conveying the water, and line; 8, the suction-chamber with pump-bara nozzle to direct its discharge. The motor rels within; 9, the suction-hose leading to a j and pump are usually managed by an engicistern or fire-plug; 10, the discharge-cham- 7o 2o neer, who also controls the supply to the hose ber; 11, the neck connecting the same with and nozzle, which latter is manipulated ,by air-chamber 12.

the so-called .pipeman! These two-are 13 represents the outlet-nipples, to which frequently out of sight of each other, owing ordinarily one end of hose 14 is attached.

to smoke, darkness, or intervening distance, 15 represents engineers valves, controlling z 5 and necessary communication between them supply of water to the hose.

becomes for these reasons more or less diffi- 16 is the discharge-nozzle, and 17 a cook or cult and at best, as now managed, is slow and valve in this nozzle. insufficient for the purpose. The failure of Connected anywhere so as to be in open prompt transmission of orders between the communication with the hose and beyond '80 30 two, particularly of the wants of the pipecontrol of valve 15 there is a whistle 18, suitman, who for his water-supply is dependent ably constructed so as to be capable of being on the engineer, leads often to unnecessary. sounded by air if such passes through it in and otherwise avoidable damage. This latsufficient volume and pressure. Connected ter may be caused, for instance, by failure of in a similar manner there is also a closed 3 5 the engineer to promptlyreduce a stream too housing 19, into which is fitted a diaphragm heavy or to instantly cut it off altogether or piston 21. In practice these two members when no longer required or by delay to furare preferably connected to housings 22, one nish the water immediately and at the proper attached to each outlet nipple 13, each of moment when needed. which housings is provided at its outer end 40 The object of my invention is therefore with ahbse-attachingnipple 23.

to enable the man at the nozzle, who is the 24 is a tank capable of containing air unbest judge for requirements by reason of beder pressure, which latter is indicated by a ing at the point of action, to convey to the gage 25 and which air is charged into the'tank engineer at the distant pump his need for through a valve-controlled nipple26. This 5 water according to the varying conditions of tank communicates with housings 22 on each the fire or other circumstances controlling. side by pipes 27., which communication is con- The invention consists of the means protrolled by cocks 28, one for each housing.

vided for this purpose and as shown and here- Piston 21 within cylinder 19 is kept norinafter described and whereby the desired mally seated by a spring 29, bearing against I00 50 object is carried out. it and a shoulder, and the pressure of which In the following specification and particuspring is adjustable by adjusting the disthe engine is in position and with hose and suctionconnections made hose and pipe men advance with the empty hose to the seat of fire. Cock 1'7 in the nozzle is closed at this time. or both of valves 28, (if two hose-lines are in use,) thus permitting the compressed air from tank 2% to fill the hose-lines, from Meanwhile the engineer opens one which it escapes through whistles 18, causing them to sound. This escape is of course quite restricted by limitation of the size of the whistle-outlet and merely suiiicient to. sound the whistle loud enough to be heard; by the engineer while close to the engine. Operation of the whistles for a length of time f sufficient for all intended purposesthat is, until the pipeman is ready for action-is thereby fully assured. Meanwhile the engineer has made ready to give water to the j pipeman as soon as the latter is ready for it and signifies his requirement to such effect. i This he does by opening the nozzle-cock 17, f permitting thereby all at once a more extensive escape of air, whereby the volume of air passing through the whistle is instantly reduced, so as to be insufficient to further sound f the same. This sudden cessation of the sound is notice to the distant engineer that water is now wanted, and accordingly he turns on i the supply by opening valve 15. At the same 5 time or preceding this action he shuts cocks 28 again to prevent any water from backing He may at the same time close whistle 18 to prevent water from squirting? therethrough,using for such purposeacock 32.

into tank 24.

During the further progress of operations if the pipeman wants the water turned off or on or less or more of it he signals his requirements to the engineer by using the waterpressure in the hose for such purpose and which pressure he raises for one or more moments by rapidly closing and opening cook 17, the closed position being in each case maintained a sufficient length of time, which j may be a second, moreor less, to cause the suddenly-created back pressure to lift piston 21. In this manner he sends back a number of impulses conveyed by the water in the hose, causing corresponding vibrations of piston 21.

This action of the piston and stem 31, connected thereto, I utilize to operate a 1 suitable signal to be perceived by preference audiblylike, for instance, a bell-signal 1 would be.

As a means to voperate this bellsignal I prefer to use electricity, for which purpose I provide a signal on the style of the ordinary and well-known electric call-bell, as shown at 33, which may be attached in any suitable position, as under the drivers seat 34 or to the frame of the engine. The battery 35 may be placed under the seat. The necessary wires 36 are readily conveyed to the upper part of cylinder 19,where they are connected each to one of each of two contactpieces 37. The impulses sent back by the pipeman through the momentarily-created back pressure of the water are conveyed electrically to the bell-signal every time stem 31 closes the electrical circuit by pushing the lower contact-piece against the upper one. A suitable signal-code may of course be readily arranged whereby the number of impulses, which may be one or two, three, or more, conveyed at a time in rapid succession, have each a certainmeaningf The adjustment provided for the water-pressure-resisting spring by means of nut 30 makes it possible to also set the device to suit different water-pressures to be used, so that the signal does not operate until a certain predetermined pressure is created. Nut 30 is rendered accessible for such purpose by having it, as well as contact-pieces 3'7, inclosed in a cage 38, through theopen sides of which nut 30 may be reached.

The various parts of this signal installation are of course in each case located, devised, and attached to suit the particular type of engine for which they are intended. By using a housing 22, which carries whistle 18 and cylinder 19, all these parts may be readily attached and fitted to existing engines. It may, however, be also omitted, and these parts might be directly attached to nipple 13, the length of which is accordingly increased.

Having described my invention, I claim as new-- 1. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the attached hose-line and valve-controlled discharge-nozzle, of an air-whistle and tank for compressed air, all in open communication with each-other so that the air from the tank mentioned may escape either through the air-whistle or through the discharge-nozzle.

2. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the attached hose-line and valve-controlled discharge-nozzle, of a cylinder in open communication therewith, a piston held therein to a normal position and against a certain water-pressure by a spring, a signal device carried by the engine and means for operating this signal when actuated by the piston while the same is caused tomove by reason of increase in water-pressure due to manipulation of the valve in the discharge nozzle.

3. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the attached hose-line and valve-controlled discharge-nozzle, of an air-whistle, a tank for compressed air and a pressure-cylinder, all in open communication with the hose-line, a piston held in this pressure-cylinder to a normal position and against a certain water-pressure by a spring, a signal device carried by the engine and means for operating this signal when actuated by the piston while the same is caused to move by reason of increase in water-pressure due to manipulation of the valve in the dischargenozzle.

4. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the attached hose-line and valve-controlled discharge-nozzle, of a cylinder in open communication therewith, a piston held therein to a normal position and against a certain water-pressure by a spring, an electrical bell-signal and electrical appu rtenances carried by the engine,norn1ally open contact-pieces in circuit with this electrical outfit and a projection on this piston adapted to close these contact-pieces to operate the bell-signal when the piston is caused to move by reason of increase in valve-pressure due to manipulation of the valve in the dischargenozzle.

5. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the discharge-nipple of the pump, of a housing adapted to be attached thereto and having a hose-attaching nipple, an air-whistle carried on this housing and a tank for compressed air in communication therewith.

6. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the discharge-nipple of the pump, of a housing adapted to be attached thereto and having a hose-attaching nipple, a pressure-cylinder mounted on this housing, a piston held therein to a normal position by a spring, a signal device carried by the engine and means intermediate this device and the piston and adapted to operate the former when this latter moves out of its normal position.,

7. In a signal installation for fire-engines, the combination with the discharge-nipple of the pump, of a housing adapted to be attached thereto and having a hose-attaching nipple, a tank for compressed air in open communication therewith, an air-whistle and a cylinder both mounted on this housing, a piston within the cylinder and held therein to a normal position by a spring, a signal device carried by the engine and means intermediate this device and the piston and adapted to operate the former when this latter moves out of its normal position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JEROME H, DETERS.

Witnesses:

O. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE. 

